While we all wish to “sleep like a baby” (well, maybe not like my fussy babies), this sleep has looked very different in the past two decades. The Back To Sleep campaign, aimed at successfully preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by having infants sleep on their backs, has led to new issues for parents and pediatricians to face: that of torticollis and plagiocephaly.
Torticollis, the tightening of the neck muscles resulting in restricted range of motion, affects up to 200,000 babies in the United States per year and can result in many secondary problems if left untreated. One of the most common secondary issues is plagiocephaly, or the misshaping of the skull. Torticollis and plagiocephaly both prevent babies from developing early motor skills, which then delays their physical and cognitive growth. The good news is that with early treatment, these infants have a higher success rate of correcting the shape of their heads, improving range of motion and helping infants meet their developmental milestones.
Judah Rosenberg is the president of Cranial Therapy Centers (CTC), a chain of established facilities that uniquely addresses torticollis and plagiocephaly by providing the clients with both helmet therapy (a remolding orthotic device used to reshape a baby’s skull) and pediatric physical and occupational therapy within the same center. The facility uses the STARscanner system, a cutting-edge technology that captures accurate data for constructing the helmet and has proven to be clinically effective. Combining these two disciplines under one roof allows for an increase in communication between the orthotist (the professional who designs and fits the helmets) and the therapist, resulting in a more efficient treatment process.
“Our main mission isn’t treating plagiocephaly and the secondary issues it can cause; rather, it is preventing these issues from happening in the first place,” explains Mr. Rosenberg. He also states that “Cranial Therapy Centers has experienced tremendous success in Central Jersey and I am thrilled to offer this specialty service in Teaneck. It is tried, proven and well received.” The clinic will have a lead occupational therapist, Sarah Small, and a lead certified and licensed prosthetist orthotist, Mitchell Hirsch. Mr. Hirsch describes the benefit of CTC as “offering a one-stop operation with use of therapeutic and helmet treatment. This combination is unique and important.”
The facility also prides itself in using only evidence-based practices. Therapists compile standardized measurements on the infants at every session and complete detailed documentation to ensure that the infant’s goals are being met. This results in the strongest outcomes and a shorter length of treatment. There is also therapy time dedicated to training family members on appropriate positioning techniques to incorporate in their daily routine, and to sharing customized plans on stretching muscles and facilitating motor development.
Mr. Rosenberg’s mission statement summarizes the backbone on which he runs his practice: “Help us not just reshape your child’s head; help up reshape his or her future.”
CTC has officially opened at 1086 Teaneck Road, Suite 3FA. They are offering a free initial therapy and orthotic assessment and welcome the community to visit the new facility. For more information and to register for an initial assessment, please visit https://cranialtherapycenters.com/.
By Sarah Small
Sarah Small, OTR/L, is the owner of Sarah B. Small OT, LLC. She works for CTC in market development and will be the lead OT of the Teaneck office.
